Circuit terminating clip

Abstract

A circuit terminating clip for mechanically retaining and electrically connecting a planer substrate such as a thick/thin film circuit to a printed wiring card. The terminating clip is characterized by a terminating body having planer sidewalls defining a hollow interconnecting post receiving area therebetween. A substrate spring member extends from a bottom edge of a front wall of the terminating body arranged to accept the edge of the substrate, connecting the substrate to the terminating body. A terminating pad member extending from the top edge of the front wall of the terminating body is soldered to the substrate retaining the terminating body to the substrate. Post spring members extending inwardly into the post receiving area engage an interconnection post which extends from the printed wiring card thereby retaining the terminating body to the printed wiring card.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A circuit terminating clip for mechanically retaining and electrically connecting a planer substrate including at least a first and a second termination pad located oppositely from each other and adjacent one edge of said substrate, and a printed wiring card including at least one interconnection post extending perpendicularly from a top surface of said printed wiring card, said circuit terminating clip comprising: a generally rectangular terminating body having a pair of planer sidewalls and a planer front and rear wall defining a hollow interconnection post receiving area therebetween, each of said sidewalls including a post spring member extending inwardly from each respective sidewall into said post receiving area and said post receiving area arranged to accept substantially therein said interconnection post with each post spring member engaging and exerting a compressive force on said interconnection post, mechanically retaining and electrically connecting the terminating body to said interconnection post;   a S-shaped substrate spring member extending from the bottom edge of said front wall of said terminating body, said substrate spring member including a contact surface defining a substrate accepting area between said contact surface and said front wall arranged to compressively accept said edge of said substrate therebetween, with said contact surface engaging said first termination pad; and   a terminating tab member extending outward from a top edge of said front wall of said terminating body, said terminating tab member solderable to said second termination pad mechanically retaining and electrically connecting said substrate to said terminating body.   
     
     
       2. A circuit terminating clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said circuit terminating clip is formed as a one-piece unit of electrically conductive material. 
     
     
       3. A circuit terminating clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said terminating body is fixedly retained to said first termination pad by the application of solder to said substrate spring member contact surface and said first termination pad.